Harness-trace.



J. B. BAXTER.

HARNESS TRACE. APPLICATION man 1m30. 1,915. 1,137,692. Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

- UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

JOHN BAXTER, 0F TROY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 'COVERT MANUFACTURING C0.,

or TROY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

' HAnNEss-TnAcn 1,137,692, Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr, 27, 1915.

Application filed January 30, 1915. Serial No. `5.288.

"0 f/Zl whom 'it my concern `Be it known that I. JOHN B. BAXTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Troy, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York. have invented certain new and usefu. Improvements in Harness various other forms without departing from the nature and principle of the invention.

In the drawing: Figure l represents a double trace embodying the invention and showing its application; Fig. 2 is a detail view ofthe Traces, of which the following is a specification, accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an improved harness trace, and more particularly to what is known as a double rope trace.

For various reasons and purposes it has been found expedient to provide traces that are strong yet cheap and can be readily, economically and quickly replaced to avoid delay or the necessity of mending by sewing or riveting. There are instances, particularly in connection with military usage, where it is imperative to quickly disengage, engage or replace the traces and for this purpose this double trace is designed and especially applicable. There are many other instances where a double trace is expedient and while rope traces have been suggested before, they have been found to have impractical or objectionable features, which this invention overcomes. In these double traces the parts are drawn down to `parallelism,the. loops at opposite ends generally being attached respectively to the swingletree and harness in connection with a trace or heel chain or as trace lengtheners.

It is known that a trace is subjected to hard usage. and realizing the :ulditional wear and destructive abrasion eal'lsed by the whippingr of two parallel courses to gether with the consequent destruction of theI strands, the present invention is designed so as to eliminate this objectionable feature by providing means for maintaining the spliced ends ot' the endless band `or loopin close association with the adjacent course or part ot the rope and thereby preventing the heavier spliced parts from whpping around or against and destroying the adjacent course ot' the double trace.

In the accompanying drawing is shown a preferred emluuliment of the invention and a modified form, but it is to be understood that the specific forms ot invention shown are employed herein lor the purposes of illustration and that the general inventive idea is susceptible of being embodied in reference being had therein to the trace showing its slicing connections, loop and drop'ringf Fig. 3 is a section on line fl-3 of Fig. l, and Fig. 4 illustrates a modified form of the loop and drop ring.

In the drawing the swingle-tree end is shown somewhat diagrammaticall at A, whillse the snap or harness ring end 1s shown at C designates the double rope trace. This trace is iliade of a single piece of rope having its end parts passed through a loop or ring member cured to the ropebody by any convenient means, preferably the metal clamping rings E. By this means a continuous band is formed which constitutes, when in use, n. double rope trace. Where the ends of the trace are spliced or united there is manifestly considerably more weight than at other points,A and in use this part of the trace has a more pronounced snapping or violent movement toward and from the other part owing to its weight and its associated members. To unite the adjacent parts of the two courses of the trace loosely and yet to maintain free relative lateral p0 sitlons, a drop ring F is attached to the loop D and this ring is of sulicient diameter to permit easy passage of the other or adjacent part of the double rope trace. This ring F may be attached 4to the loop D in various' ways. In Fig. 1 it is shown as a ring passing through the loop, and in Fig. 4 it is shown as an integral part or casting with one of the side bars of the loop, as shown, wherein the loop D isl represented as airing member and one part ot the casting, while the drop ring D2 is represented as another part of the casting. Of course various modifications can be made of this loop and drop ring construction.

In use the splice with the loop and dro ring are generally and designedly by re erence, located midway the length o the trace. In this position the two parts of tho rope a re held in proper position against becoming entangled or side whipping, one against the other, and there is the requisite D and carried back and se bers for equalizing strains on the two para`- lel members of the trace and the parts a.-

generally maintained 1n their proper relative position. l

`It is to be understood that where the `term loop is employed in this specification, it is intended to comprehend and include other structures, such 'as rings or devices which are analogous, or serve the purpose of a loop. It is also to be understood that the term rope -is used to include analogous bands or members.

' The invention has been found highly beneficial and adds materially to the life of the trace.

Other advantages accrue from the use of I the invention as will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A doubled rope trace for harness comprising a single piece of rope having a loop memes passe, means for securing. the ends of the Vrope in the loop, and a drop ring member carried by the loop and through which the adjacent part of the rope trace passes.

` 2. In a rope trace, the combination with a rope, of a loop member to which the ends of the rope are attached, and a laterally eX- tending drop member on the loop member through which a part of the rope freely passes.

3. A rope trace composed of parallel parts and having a ring member intermediate its ends, and an associated member directly connected to the ring member for retaining the two parallel parts of the trace against relative lateral whipping movement.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

, JOHN B. BAXTER.

Witnessesz VERNON E. CovERT,

GEORGE H. LEE. 

